title: The prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption in older U.S. adults: data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcohol consumption and its interaction with disease, medication use, and functional status may result in serious health problems, but little information exists about the national prevalence of alcohol-related health risk in older adults.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of harmful and hazardous alcohol use and the prevalence of consumption in excess of National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommendations, in people aged 65 and older, and by sex and race/ethnicity sub-group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, using data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of the non-institutionalized U.S. population.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand and eighty-three respondents aged 65 and older who consume alcohol.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants' alcohol consumption was classified as Harmful, Hazardous, or Healthwise, in the context of their specific health status, using the Alcohol-Related Problems Survey classification algorithm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 14.5 % of older drinkers (95 % CI: 12.1 %, 16.8 %) consumed alcohol above the NIAAA's recommended limits. However, when health status was taken into account, 37.4 % of older drinkers (95 % CI: 34.9 %, 40.0 %) had Harmful consumption and 53.3 % (95 % CI: 50.1 %, 56.6 %) had either Hazardous or Harmful consumption. Among light/moderate drinkers, the proportions were 17.7 % (95 % CI: 14.7 %, 20.7 %) and 28.0 % (95 % CI: 24.8 %, 31.1 %), respectively. Male drinkers had significantly greater odds of Hazardous/Harmful consumption than female drinkers (OR = 2.14 [95 % CI: 1.77, 2.6]). Black drinkers had worse health status and significantly greater odds of Hazardous/Harmful consumption than white drinkers (OR = 1.49; 95 % CI: 1.02, 2.17), despite having no greater prevalence of drinking in excess of NIAAA-recommended limits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most older Americans who drink are light/moderate drinkers, yet substantial proportions of such drinkers drink in a manner that is either harmful or hazardous to their health. Older adults with risky alcohol consumption are unlikely to be identified by health care providers if clinicians rely solely on whether patient consumption exceeds the NIAAA-recommended limits.
authors.affiliation: Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute, 795 El Camino Real, Ames Building, Palo Alto, CA, 94301, USA, Wilsons@pamfri.org.
authors.forename: Sandra R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Sarah B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: Qiwen
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fink
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000639:trends*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000639:trends; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D054563:National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U.S.) / Q000639:trends*; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000639:trends*; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology